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Third Conditional Progressive

Perfect conditional, continuous - Form

This tense is composed of two elements: the perfect condtional of the verb 'to be' (would have been) + the present participle (base+ing).

Subject would have been base+ing
I would have been sitting
We would have been swimming
Affirmative
I would have been studying.
Negative
You wouldn't have been living.
Interrogative
Would we have been travelling?
Interrogative negative
Wouldn't it have been working?

Examples: to work, Past continuous conditional

Affirmative Negative
I would have been working I wouldn't have been working
You would have been working You wouldn't have been working.
He would have been working She wouldn't have been working
We would have been working We wouldn't have been working
You would have been working You wouldn't have been working
They would have been working They wouldn't have been working
Interrogative Interrogative negative
Would I have been working? Wouldn't I have been working?
Would you have been working? Wouldn't you have been working?
Would he have been working? Wouldn't she have been working?
Would we have been working? Wouldn't we have been working?
Would you have been working? Wouldn't you have been working?
Would they have been working? Wouldn't they have been working?

Function

This tense can be used in Type 3 conditional sentences. It refers to the unfulfilled result of the action in the if-clause, and expresses this result as an unfinished or continuous action. Again, there is always an unspoken "but.." phrase:

  • If the weather had been better (but it wasn't), I'd have been sitting in the garden when he arrived (but I wasn't and so I didn't see him).
  • If she hadn't got a job in London (but she did), she would have been working in Paris (but she wasn't).

Examples:

  • If I'd had a ball I would have been playing football.
  • If I'd had any money I'd have been drinking with my friends in the pub that night.
  • If I had known it was dangerous I wouldn't have been climbing that cliff.
  • She wouldn't have been wearing a seat-belt if her father hadn't told her to.

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Third Conditional Progressive Grammar Quiz

  1. If I hadn't procrastinated on the English paper, I would have been on the beach last weekend.

  2. I could have been "Inglorious Basterds" now, if the storm hadn't caused the power outage in the theater.

  3. If Lisa had married him, they'd together in Ghana.

  4. I could've Pina Coladas in Mexico now if the bank robbery hadn't gotten me arrested.

  5. The band would have played an awesome set if the lead singer hadn't a sore throat.

Go Super to see the answers! Go Super!

Third Conditional Progressive Lessons:

Caroling

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Comments

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sean31

sean31

United Arab Emirates

If I`d had seen this movie that night i would have going with you to the cinema

12:23 AM Jun 24 2010 |

Ridiom

Ridiom

Peru

If I'd had a car when I was child I wouldn't have been wrritting here.

10:47 PM Jun 14 2010 |

mossavi

mossavi

Afghanistan

if i had not taken english classes i wouldn't have been able to speak english

04:04 PM Apr 25 2010 |

lian12345

Philippines

i wouldn’t have been going there if my friend hadn’t told me to..

08:09 AM Apr 18 2010 |

lian12345

Philippines

i wouldn't have been going there if my friend hadn't told me to..

08:06 AM Apr 18 2010 |

bbc_princess

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I would have been walking near the mountains if it hadn't been raining last weekend :(

03:06 PM Apr 13 2010 |

Artien

Artien

Indonesia

If i’d had a lot of money i would have been traveling around the world.

02:05 PM Nov 17 2009 |

mr.polah

mr.polah

Indonesia

i forget the word '' if''

08:57 AM Nov 17 2009 |

mr.polah

mr.polah

Indonesia

i had studied i would have been in same class with u

08:57 AM Nov 17 2009 |

maria_b

maria_bSuper Member!

Brazil

This is very complicated!

01:55 AM Feb 03 2009 |